New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-12
STRIKING FOR A REDUCTION.
WHY MIR. BERWIND's MEN LEFT WORK.

WHY MIR. BERWINDS MEN LEFT WOhh'
SOME INTERESTING TESTIMONY BEFORE THE AS
sEMBLY COMMITTEE.
The Assembly committee to Investigate the strikes c'
again yesterday at IL a IN. In the City Hail. mesSrs
Hogeboom Cchairman), Ainsworth, Collins. Kimbai anu
Martin were all present considerable audience
listened the testimony Most OF the persons present
strikers The first witness was Joseph Suckney
coal commission dealer OF the firm Of sckney, Conyng
ham & Co., No. 1 Broadway. He said his firm were
wholesale dealers Four last Saturday per
son called on him and said that unless he paid his men
25 cents hour at South Amboy they would strike the
morning The announced himself as the sec
rotary OF District Committee No. 40. Knights OF Labor
There had been complaint the part of Mr. sckneys
men since last summer, when demand for increase
was made and conceded. He told the SEQ
re.ary that he could not afford to raise
wages and the next morning the men failed
to go to work Mr.. stickney employed 40 men-top-
men, trimmers and wheelmen. The secretary did not
say That the dissatisfied Mr. Stickney thought
the Wholesale price OF stove coal now "a the
next smaller size SO go The price OF stove coal In
December SO o. In October 1t was $3 II, ana the
average for the year 50 go against So OS In 1882
The average now So 40 Coal is usually higher
in the winter than in summer. Prices are always
marked down in March and April. II the producers
had abided by their arrangement to limit the produc-
lion OF coal to certain amount per month
tt would naturally have sustained prices II there had
been no strike Mr. Stickney thought there would have
been no increase whatever In the wholesale prices OF
coal last month. The witness not familiar with the
retail price OF coal but IL 1t true that 81 ton Is
being charged the increase must have been due to the
strike He thought. however that such price was I'M
ustnabe Coal Is not IL Is difficult to
sell what il on hand Undoubtedly the increase in coal
prices In winter Is due in large measure to the greater
demand though it costs considerably moro to produce
coal in winter than in summer
O. O,y Mr. Martin)-would you be willing to settle your
difference it without reference 10 other
Ayes will not arbitrate my Affairs WIZ not permit any
bound by what other dealer does ,,. ..,n.o -.
price 22 cents would you continue 10 pay the
higher rate A.That would depend on circumstance a
petition to reduce also.
Edward J. Berwind, of the BcrwndW White Coal Mining
Company Of No 81 Broadway. said that his firm were the
largest dealers In soft coal IN the city, Their yearly pro
duct was tons 9ey So s ond so by the
gross ton at tlewater The price OF soft coal now Is
II now 81 % which is the figure 1t usually reaches
at this season. The witness continued:
point at south AmSS our nS coal being
employ any there indirectly have about 100 men
employs them But for this service
an nave arS ~ =, 20 c oyr boats are open with
ire boar requiring the efore but little rm.
cciei to but ies npained Of by anrs
S @ 10 la sRS % S men o1 ~ hoa n 5oT Gy
t i'm nig6t and day d,1,rcnt gangs OF course
ago last sunday men struck was down there
inst before committee Of men asked 10 see me
tod them had heard runors at they were go ing 20 u,
work 10 ad TIE anthracite strike ana wanted 10 Know VIVA,
v Wse well sS, sSca In me- Tut they
-aI mat a. they knew. large contractors with
aaord 10 have any .ioppags Of work that we were
thrs,c strike They finally ad that II would not sell 70
the panr against whom The strike was aimei 'hey "9na
goa pressure was bnsn to be ngon my men ey ns ,n
they again. went down aud saw them:
ay 5 Sc& ma Wa h. F .o S to
any non nnion boat. ana " nv ssryee or they
would have To- strike od would do such thing, I
shond not do 50 They then they would let know
Dr IA sc wSs and D ry wen, OUT and in dong 80 placed
selves tho anom.o. poon OF Strkins Tor reduction oil
o.SGow tnat AWhy s,s men who were striking
they wanted what they struck for 1t was reduction
John r. Wilson SAID he connected with the Lehgh
and wkesbarre Coal Company as sales agent lie sodDy
men asked for advance Of 2la cents
We granted their request until January notifying them
that We could this rate but would have
10 the old ratio al 20 cents after The close OF me
tae ecc ,na inev "n.y made out $500 syear
Patrick Noan snd a man named Edward have Their
PAM AN Az" vtsT IS ami a%S got $500 is Our trim
""n EFT the places Of my men With others getting
aong very we'll q shipped coal lar during
February 1851 than We did during tho same month oil last
year
Mr. Wilson did believe in arbitration. He did not
think any had aug right to step ia ana direct MS
business affairs lie only wanted his obvious rights TO
hire whom he pleased for what he pleased III any one
chose to he employed.
r. H. Williams a Wholesale coal commission merchant
at No Broadway, gave testimony ol the KIND gwen by
the nre yious witness IIe said that uls received II
cents and were well paid They had made no complaint
or demand anti after they struck Their movement
against hun purely sympashet Z one
iona j. Mckenua said he was 'longshoreman IN the
Ocean steamship Con- auy's employ IL was pretty
far company II was the only American company That
paid the union OF wages Its employees had no
quarrel with II ut all
O-Aud vet they struck A.-YeG
O-Why n they had gri, v nCef A-Out OF sympathy
via the 60 A men All the that into THIS port came
thruurL our company IL handled by the soaOs we
did moi think TGh To assist them against our own
people ami o stopped wOIkD
Mr. Mrkeuna arbitration. though he confessed
himself unable prescribe way 10 enforce the decisions
m th, nrbltrutors lie thought, Tar laboring men
were concerned such decisions would he acknowledged
as binding and the labor organizations would support
Them but he conceded that they were binding only Dy
moral aud not by legal force He did not think there
would he any remedy for the ills workngnen suffer SO
long IA Legislatures guaranteed 70 corporations priv
leges which made them powerful All public benents
such as the carrying business railroads aud teegraphs
should he controlled and administered by tue Govern
ment Mr. McKonua thought that the Blreau OF statis-
ties OF tails State managed disgracefuy 81 ar as
he coud Sec endeavoriug only 10 show EMPLOYERS
how cheauly workiugmen could live It's report nAcu
the possbillty In that direction at eight cents n day
The tee vii. meet gain this morning